Aaran and his gang of hooligans stood before a massive door.
"Open it."
On receiving the command, the goblins pushed the door open. As Aaran entered the chamber, neon lights flickered to life, illuminating the place.
A beast stood at the center, its back turned towards them. Unlike the goblins from before, it only held a hand cannon. But the weapon was as big as a grown goblin. Even then, the gun looked small in the monster's hand.
The two undead goblins and seven mind-controlled zombies rushed ahead, protecting Aaran.
[Your presence has angered the Crazed Hobgoblin.]
…that thing is a hobgoblin? Who fed it the Italian plumber's mushroom!?
While the goblins stared at the boss, Aaran looked around the room. He expected there'd be more goblins for him to control and raise, but it seemed the hobgoblin was the only threat there.
This won't be easy—
A loud bang halted Aaran's thought. Blood and gore rained on him as the goblin nearest to him disappeared into thin air. He stared at the scorched spot beside him.
Meanwhile, the hobgoblin smiled, a cloud of smoke escaping its hand cannon's barrel. Just like that, the dungeon's difficulty soared from hard to impossible.
Aaran clenched his fist. That gun was troublesome. If they kept herding together, one bullet would kill them all.
"Disperse and attack!"
The goblins scattered around the room. At least now they won't die from a single attack. Even then, the goblins would have to group to fight or deal any damage to a ten-foot-tall monster.
But there was something strange. The hobgoblin had an overpowered weapon, yet it didn't use the cannon again.
"The weapon must have a cooldown duration," Aaran mumbled, scratching his chin. "Keep your distance! Don't attack just yet!"
The goblin who had rushed ahead immediately jumped back. To make a plan, Aaran had to know the cooldown duration between the bullets. He didn't have to wait for long as the handgun shimmered blue.
A moment later, the hobgoblin fired another blinding shot, obliterating yet another goblin.
Twenty seconds! That's ridiculous!
Aaran hoped the interval would be in minutes, but twenty seconds was too short of a window to do anything.
"To hell with it! ATTACK NOW! GO!"
It didn't matter if it was twenty seconds or a hundred. He'd have to make do with what he had.
Since the monster's weapon was overpowered, it must be weak without it. It was the gamer logic speaking.
If that was the case, defeating the hobgoblin would take a while, but the goblins would slowly chip away at its HP. Without a time limit to clear the dungeon, it was their win.
However, Aaran forgot one thing. It was a dungeon made by the gods. It wasn't a game.
As the goblins got closer, the hobgoblin swung its massive arms. Just like that, two goblins died, crushed under the creature's fists.
"If I don't do something, we'll be wiped out…"
There was one thing he could try, even though he hoped he'd never have to.
"Hold the boss back!"
The goblins nodded and engaged the hobgoblin fiercely. Meanwhile, Aaran dug through his backpack until he saw something shimmering.
He hesitated before pulling out the pom-poms.
"This is so embarrassing…" he mumbled.
There was another deafening shot. Another goblin had died. Aaran didn't have time to hesitate anymore. With only four goblins remaining, he had to give it his all.
"G-Go… goblins! You c-can do it!"
His face flushed with embarrassment as he vigorously shook the pom-poms.
The goblins turned towards him, watching him strangely. Even the hobgoblin tilted its head as if questioning his sanity. But Aaran didn't give up, and soon, a notification appeared before him.
[Mild cheering detected. Allies will receive 10% stat boost.]
[Mild cheering detected. Enemy will receive 10% stat nerf.]
"L-Let's go, goblins! You can d-do it!"
Aaran yelled louder, making weird shapes with his hands.
[High cheering detected. Allies will receive 110% stat boost.]
[High cheering detected. Enemy will receive 110% stat nerf.]
As Aaran's voice got louder, the benefits increased.
This is the worst day of my life!
Aaran closed his eyes in shame. But the cheering didn't stop.
As ridiculous as it was, the cheering worked. The goblin got faster and stronger while the hobgoblin got slower. Even the recharge time for the hand cannon increased, allowing the goblins to deal more damage.
A goblin stabbed the hobgoblin in the leg, while the other bit its ear. Slowly but surely, the goblins were wearing down the hobgoblin.
Things were heading the right way.
The embarrassment slowly faded away and the cheering buff reached mythic grade, surrounding the goblins with a golden glow.
[Angelic cheering detected. Allies will receive 300% stat boost.]
[Angelic cheering detected. Enemy will receive 300% stat nerf.]
As the hits accumulated, the hobgoblin was pushed back. And then, for the first time, it turned its crimson eyes on Aaran.
The hobgoblin was no fool. It knew Aaran's weird dance was the reason for its misery.
"Oh, crap!"
With a loud roar, the hobgoblin charged straight at him.
"OI! Wait!" Aaran screamed, running across the room. "Do something, you idiots!"
And so the chase began.
Aaran ran ahead, waving the pom-poms frantically. Behind him, the hobgoblin roared, firing the hand cannon. And behind it were the goblins, shouting their lungs off.
It was impossible to outrun the hobgoblin with his small feet. Aaran knew that. He took advantage of his size, running in a zig-zag path. It also made it difficult for the hobgoblin to aim.
What was supposed to be a boss fight had turned into a ridiculous game of cat and mouse.
Within minutes, the boss room was riddled with holes from the cannon. Aaran ran and jumped over one such hole. However, in his rage, the hobgoblin didn't pay attention and its feet got stuck in the hole.
The creature roared, trying to free itself. But the time ran out. The goblin surrounded it while Aaran cheered them on. The goblins smiled with malice before mobbing the hobgoblin.
Still, it wasn't enough. The hobgoblin was too resilient. To make things worse, Aaran was already tired. The continuous cheering had drained him of all strength.
Simultaneously, the glow around the goblins vanished. Their attacks slowed, and the hobgoblin, though on the verge of collapsing, fought back.
However, as the pom-poms slipped from his hand, his eyes fell on the boss's discarded weapon.
"You two! Help me!" Aaran yelled, rushing towards the hand cannon.
With the help of the undead goblins, Aaran aimed the cannon at the hobgoblin.
"JUST DIE ALREADY!"
He screamed and pulled the trigger. The recoil hit everyone like a train as the mana bullet tore through the hobgoblin's chest. It collapsed on the ground with a loud thud.
It was over.
[Dungeon Cleared!]